What is Venofer?

Venofer contains iron sucrose, a form of the mineral iron. Iron is important for many functions in the body, especially for the transport of oxygen in the blood.

Venofer is used to treat iron deficiency anemia in people with kidney disease. Venofer is usually given with another medication to promote the growth of red blood cells (such as Aranesp, Epogen, or Procrit).

This medication is not for treating other forms of anemia not caused by iron deficiency.

Venofer may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

Important information

You should not receive Venofer if you have ever had an allergic reaction to an iron injection, or if you have iron overload (the buildup of excess iron) or hemochromatosis.

Before you receive Venofer, tell your doctor if you have low blood pressure, hepatitis, or if you have received many blood transfusions in the past.

Venofer can make it harder for your body to absorb iron medications you take by mouth. Tell your doctor if you are taking iron supplements or other iron-based oral medications.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before I receive Venofer?

You should not receive Venofer if you have ever had an allergic reaction to an iron injection, or if you have iron overload (the buildup of excess iron) or hemochromatosis.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use Venofer:

low blood pressure;

hepatitis; or

if you have received many blood transfusions.

FDA pregnancy category B. Venofer is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Venofer passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Venofer without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use Venofer?

Venofer is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein or directly into a dialysis line. You will receive this injection in a clinic, hospital, or dialysis setting.

To be sure Venofer is helping your condition and not causing harmful effects, your blood may need to be tested often. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with Venofer. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor if you miss an appointment for your Venofer.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

These symptoms may also occur if the medication is infused too quickly.

What should I avoid?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using Venofer.

Venofer side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives, itching; wheezing, difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your caregivers right away if you have a serious side effect such as:

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Venofer. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Professional resources

Related treatment guides

Where can I get more information?

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Venofer only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.